mitsubishi lancer sportback ralliart

Earlier this year, Mitsubishi confirmed it would be rolling out the Lancer Sportback hatch as well as its sporty Ralliart variant at Paris. We first saw Mitsubishi's hatchback design study earlier this year in Geneva where the automaker introduced its Prototype-S five-door. The production-trim Lancer Sportback incorporates a majority of the concept's styling cues into an attractive, though less-aggressive hatchback package. As with the Lancer sedan, the Lancer Sportback will initially be offered in Europe with a choice of three engine options that include a 1.5L and 1.8L four-cylinder gasoline engines producing 108 and 141 hp, respectively, and a 138-hp 2.0L diesel. This clean diesel engine will be available in the entire Lancer lineup come spring 2009.
Like the Lancer Ralliart we drove earlier this year, the Lancer Sportback Ralliart edition features unique body styling and performance enhancements designed by Mitsubishi's in-house performance division. The model-specific cladding -- composed of revised front and rear bumpers (with diffusers) and sculpted side sills -- has been engineered to keep the car planted under high-speed maneuvers. Under the hood is a detuned variant of the 2.0L turbocharged MIVEC used in the current Lancer Evo X that produces 237 hp and 253 lb-ft of torque. Power will be applied to all four wheels via Mitsubishi's twin-clutch SST transmission with Active Center Differential. Optionally available on the U.S.-market Ralliart cars will be a Recaro Sport package that includes HID headlights, Rockford Fosgate sound system, and, of course, highly bolstered Recaro front sport seats as on the Lancer Evolution GSR. The Sportback and more than likely its Ralliart variant are expected to head stateside sometime in 2009.